Latest news with #KateMartin
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chicago Sky Coach Sends Kate Martin, Kaitlyn Chen Message After Valkyries Game
Chicago Sky Coach Sends Kate Martin, Kaitlyn Chen Message After Valkyries Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky now own a 4-11 record during the 2025 WNBA season after Friday evening's loss to the Golden State Valkyries. With the 83 to 78 defeat, the Sky remain in 11th place in the league standings. Advertisement Second-year forward Angel Reese put together her second consecutive game with more than 17 points and 17 rebounds during the loss. Veteran guard Ariel Atkins pitched in 20 points, making her Chicago's leading scorer for the second time in the last three games. For the Valkyries, 10-year veteran guard Kayla Thornton led the way with a season-high 29 points. Young guards Kate Martin and Kaitlyn Chen added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin (20).Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images First-year Sky head coach Tyler Marsh spoke to the media after Friday's loss, Chicago's 11th of the season. He spoke in detail about Golden State's young guards, Martin and Chen. Advertisement Marsh went into detail about what each of these players specifically brings to the Valkyries, who are now 8-7 after the win. "They're two pieces that just fit perfectly into how they want to play,' Marsh said. 'The constant movement, on and off the ball, the pressure they put on you defensively as well. It allows them to play big minutes in big moments, so they came through for them tonight.' Martin is in her second professional season after being drafted in the second round of the 2024 WNBA Draft. She spent her rookie year with the Las Vegas Aces, but has seen her scoring rise from 2.6 to 6.7 points per game with the Valkyries in 2025. Advertisement Chen was a third-round pick in this year's draft, but she failed to make Golden State's initial roster. However, with several players fulfilling overseas commitments, Chen landed a contract back with the Valkyries. In her three games with the team, she is averaging 5.0 points, 1.0 assists and 1.0 rebounds in 18.3 minutes per contest. She is also shooting 5-for-9 from the floor and 1-for-2 from beyond the three-point line. Chicago will play their next game on Sunday when it travels to Arena in Los Angeles to take on the 5-11 Sparks. The game will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET. Related: Chicago Sky Coach Admits Blame for Angel Reese Play in 11th Loss Related: Chicago Sky Star Makes Kate Martin Statement After Loss to Valkyries This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chicago Sky Star Makes Kate Martin Statement After Loss to Valkyries
Chicago Sky Star Makes Kate Martin Statement After Loss to Valkyries originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky dropped to 4-11 during the 2025 WNBA season after Friday's loss to the Golden State Valkyries. The defeat at the hands of the league's newest expansion franchise keeps the Sky in 11th place in the WNBA standings. Advertisement Ariel Atkins led the Sky in scoring once again with 20 points in the loss. She also chipped in five rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. 2024 WNBA All-Star forward Angel Reese added 17 points and 18 rebounds, as well as two assists and a steal. With this performance, she became the first player in WNBA history to record 35 points, 35 rebounds and eight assists in a two-game span (via Polymarket Hoops). Chicago Sky guard Ariel Atkins (7).David Gonzales-Imagn Images For the Valkyries, who now own an 8-7 record after Friday's victory, it was guard Kayla Thornton who led the charge with a career-high 29 points. Veteran guard Tiffany Hayes added 13 points, and second-year player Kate Martin pitched in 11 in the win. Advertisement Atkins has led Chicago in scoring in two of the last three contests. After the game, Atkins spoke to the media about Martin and her strong performance on Friday evening. 'Kate [Martin] is always aggressive," Atkins said. "That's who she's been since she was at Iowa." As a rookie for the Las Vegas Aces, Martin only averaged 2.6 points and did not play in every game. She has enjoyed a change of scenery, however, after being selected by Golden State in the 2025 expansion draft. This season, she has nearly tripled her scoring output with 6.7 points per game, and she is contributing 2.8 rebounds per contest as well. Her 11 points on Friday were her fourth-highest output of the season. Advertisement Chicago will be back in action on Sunday afternoon when it takes on the 5-11 Los Angeles Sparks. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m. ET at Arena. Related: Chicago Sky in Disbelief Over Angel Reese Play Against Valkyries Related: Chicago Sky Announce Change After Kamilla Cardoso Leaves Team Related: Ranking the 25 Best WNBA Players of All Time This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
San Francisco Chronicle
20 hours ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Valkyries see how Kate ‘Money' Martin can impact a game as a shotmaker
Kate Martin earned the nickname 'Money' last season for her timely shots in limited minutes as a rookie with the Las Vegas Aces. But Wednesday night in San Francisco, she cashed in as a Golden State Valkyrie: a career-best 21-point performance that included a 14-point fourth-quarter explosion that nearly stole the game from the New York Liberty. New York won 81-78. In her first season with the Valkyries (7-7) under head coach Natalie Nakase, a former Aces assistant, Martin has had a few 'money' moments, including hitting a halftime buzzer-beater against Las Vegas and tallying 14 points against the Minnesota Lynx. 'I was ice cold in the first half, so shout out to (my teammates) for continuing to pass me the ball,' Martin said of her fourth-quarter flurry. 'It just feels good to knock down shots.' Martin shot just 26.3% with 4.5 points per game in the Valkyries' first five games, serving as a healthy scratch in Game 5 — Golden State's loss in New York on May 29. And while Nakase has alternated her lineups often, it appeared Martin wasn't in the regular rotation. Then Martin performed well against the Lynx on June 1 and played significant bench minutes in wins over Las Vegas, the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm. Against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on June 19, Martin played the role of a shutdown guard. After she went 0-for-8 from the field in Sunday's win over the Sun, Martin responded on Wednesday by showing the impact she can have off the bench as a scorer — potential that will force defenses to think twice. 'She's a great shooter, and she's got a lot of confidence when the ball comes to her, and she's going to make tough plays, and you saw that tonight,' Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello said of Martin. 'She made some shots where we over-helped and just left her open, and that wasn't the plan. But sometimes in the heat of the battle, we lose our focus on how we want to execute. But Kate made those shots, and she's always stayed ready. I really like her mentality. She really was a thorn in our side, and at the end, obviously, they went to her and got a shot off and didn't make it. … Finally.' Martin hit four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, scoring the final 12 Valkyries points. She cut the deficit to three with a 3-pointer at the 4:35 mark. The next possession, she netted another trey from the left wing to tie the score. With 1:59 left, Martin gave the Valkyries a 75-74 lead with another left-corner 3. Then she hit an impossible-angle shot — from the left again — to cut the Liberty lead to 79-78 with 12.2 seconds on the clock. Golden State got no closer as Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu made two free throws to extend New York's lead. But Martin's breakout came at a time when the Valkyries needed to see it. Golden State was without five players on Wednesday: Carla Leite (back) and Temi Fagbenle (rest), plus EuroBasket participants Julie Vanloo (Belgium), Janelle Salaün (France) and Cecilia Zandalasini (Italy). Golden State's offense once again went stagnant late in the fourth quarter. In the loss to New York on May 29, the Valkyries scored five points in the last 3:11. In the loss to Phoenix on June 5, a late 18-1 run by the Mercury stole victory away. The Valkyries need more than one hot shooter to deliver in late-game scenarios, so Martin emerging as a reliable option is significant. Martin is shooting 31.9% from 3, ranking behind Zandalasini (47.1%), Salaün (40%), Tiffany Hayes (34.6%) and Chloe Bibby (42.9%), who has played in just three games. Martin has played 16.7 minutes per game off the bench, just ahead of the 16.6 from Leite among regular rotation players. Martin is still primarily a 3-and-D player, but she's venturing inside more often; she takes 60.3% of her shots from 3-point range compared to 70.5% last season, and 28.2% of her shots come from within 3 to 10 feet of the rim. 'All of her hard work in the offseason coming into this season is now coming to life,' Nakase said of Martin. 'She had a trainer who not only improved her basketball skills, but also her physical skills. So she was in the weight room. She was doing agility. She was always asking, 'What should I work on? ' And so, again, just credit to her for sacrificing her whole offseason. And now you guys are seeing the results of everything.' Chicago head coach Tyler Marsh, an assistant in Las Vegas last season, cited Martin's experience with the Aces and the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league this offseason as helping prepare her for her new role at Golden State. 'We can just see she's getting more and more comfortable and playing against elite competition, and not being afraid of the moment,' Marsh said Thursday, a day before the Valkyries' matchup against his Sky. Martin isn't about to become Golden State's top scoring option. Still, with her 3-point ability and improving ability to get to the rim, she might be one of the Valkyries' most important pieces during their improbable playoff contention. 'We want her to stay aggressive,' Nakase said. 'It's a credit to Kate believing in herself and her teammates believing in her.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sabrina Ionescu Reacts to Kate Martin's Big Play After Liberty-Valkyries Game
Sabrina Ionescu Reacts to Kate Martin's Big Play After Liberty-Valkyries Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kate Martin had arguably the best game of her young WNBA career on Wednesday night as her Golden State Valkyries fell to Sabrina Ionescu and the defending champion New York Liberty, 81-78. Advertisement In front of another sold-out crowd at Chase Center, Martin scored a career-high 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting and 4-of-10 from distance in 24 minutes of action. She also added two rebounds and a steal. Ionescu put up 11 points on 1-of-11 shooting and seven rebounds. Martin scored 12 of her 21 points in the final five minutes of the game. With the Valkyries trailing by six, she sparked a personal 9-2 run to give Golden State the lead. Martin was also the only Valkyries player to score in the final 6:30 of play. Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Yamashita-Imagn Images One of Martin's 3-pointers drew praise from Ionescu. With 1:59 remaining, Martin hit the third long-range shot of her personal run, giving Golden State a one-point lead. The San Francisco crowd erupted in response to her clutch play. After the win, Ionescu spoke to the reporters for a postgame press conference. When asked about playing in "Ballhalla" for the first time, Ionescu, who grew up near San Francisco, mentioned Martin's big 3-pointer. Advertisement "It's kinda fun to be a competitor and have those cheers go against you," Ionescu said. "I think we were able to kind of withstand their runs. They went on huge runs. Kate Martin hit a huge three, feel like the building was about to pop off. So it was just fun." With the loss, Martin and the Valkyries saw their two-game winning streak come to an end, falling to 7-7 to begin the 2025 WNBA season. Ionescu and the Liberty, on the other hand, improve to 11-3 and remain atop the Eastern Conference standings. Related: Brittney Griner's Wife Sends Two-Word Message to DeWanna Bonner After Leaving Fever This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kate Martin's career night didn't top Liberty, but it's still a win for Valkyries
SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin, cutting toward the left sideline, stepped perfectly into the catch-and-shoot 3-pointer. However, New York Liberty guard Marine Johannès understood the assignment. Martin was hot Wednesday night, Golden State was down four, and only a handful of seconds remained, so Johannès smothered the look. Advertisement Martin pumpfaked, took one dribble to the right and launched a fadeaway shot. It didn't matter that Johannès was still there, hands up in Martin's face. What mattered to the Golden State guard was that her team needed a bucket, and she was the one to get it. And when she drilled it, cutting New York's lead to a point with 11.4 seconds remaining, Martin did more than keep alive the Valkyries' pursuit of victory, more than provoke a higher octave from Chase Center's roar. She authored a moment. Her moment. One that could reverberate into the remaining season. 'It just feels good to knock down shots,' Martin said. Advertisement She was 0 of 8 from the field in her last outing, on Sunday against Connecticut, which thwarted the momentum she gained in last week's 4-of-7 showing against Indiana. She missed her first four 3s against the Liberty. However, she found her stroke in the fourth quarter. She worked herself into a rhythm. Her will carried her through. Buried inside Martin, beneath the smile and the unassuming visage, behind the eyes that can look a bit overwhelmed at times, is a fire-breathing competitor. A confident, dynamic player who loves the moment. The trick has been getting that out of Martin. Coaxing her edge consistently to the surface. Because when it's out, when her fire governs her game, she can be a problem for the opponent. Advertisement And, for whatever reason, the chance to upset the defending champion Liberty? Bay Area hero Sabrina Ionescu in town? The best version of Martin was unleashed in Ballhalla on Wednesday night. New York was almost burned. The Liberty (11-3) escaped Chase Center with an 81-78 win over the Valkyries. However, Martin ensured the East's best team had to dig deep to secure it with an explosive fourth quarter. She set five career-highs: shots made (7) and attempted (15), 3-pointers made (4) and attempted (10), all for a personal-best 21 points — her first 20-point night in 47 games as a pro. A refreshing level of assertiveness from coach Natalie Nakase's perspective. 'Of course,' she said, 'we want her to stay aggressive.' Advertisement The Valkyries (7-7), still in sixth place in the league despite the loss, got their latest glimmer of hope from Martin. Their original pick in the expansion draft, expected to bring some juice to a franchise without an A-1 star, Martin felt the rigors of an expansion team. Golden State's developing roster and fluctuating rotations make it hard for a reserve to establish a rhythm. Martin, in her second season out of Iowa, has gotten lost at times amid Nakase's searching. In Martin's 13 games this season, she has played under 15 minutes in five and over 20 minutes in just four. She's taken three shots or fewer six times, while Wednesday was her second game with at least 10 attempts. If Wednesday's career performance was a launching point for Martin, if she's found enough liberty to play with the aggressiveness they want, then Wednesday night's loss bodes as well as a win. The scrappiness shaping the Valkyries' inaugural season, which has the expansion club thinking about the playoffs, embodies Martin's performance. Advertisement She played through rough patches and wasn't thwarted by missed looks. And she took advantage of isolation opportunities. She was 3 of 5 in the paint, driving at the Liberty defense. Her runner over Ionescu with the foul put Golden State up 55-50 with under six minutes left in the third quarter. The Valkyries were down four midway through the fourth when Martin got a wide-open look from the right corner off an offensive rebound by Veronica Burton. However, Martin, who'd already missed three attempts in the quarter, including two air balls, whiffed again. Two possessions later, a drive by Kayla Thornton got Martin another open look from the same corner. She didn't shy away and didn't pump-fake and drive. The created shots must be taken. This time, Martin buried it. Advertisement The next time down, Burton swung the extra pass to Martin on the left wing for another open look. She knocked it down, trying the game at 72 with just over 4:30 left. The Valkyries had survived a first-half barrage from Breanna Stewart, who scored 21 of her 23 before halftime, and were blindsided by 20 from New York's Kennedy Burke off the bench, negating Golden State's stifling of Ionescu into a 1-of-11 shooting performance. Somehow, as usual, the women in black and violet found a way to stay within reach of victory. Down two, two minutes later, Stephanie Talbot's drive-and-kick got Martin an open look from the left corner. With the defender closing fast, Martin quickened her release and swished another one. Golden State led 75-74 with 1:59 remaining. Advertisement 'She's a great shooter, and she's got a lot of confidence when the ball comes to her,' Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. 'She made some shots where we overhelped, and just left her open, and that wasn't the plan. … But Kate made those shots, and she's always stayed ready. I like her mentality. She really was a thorn in our side.' Her clutch fadeaway 3-pointer with 11.4 seconds left put the Valkyries in position to extend the game. After Ionescu made two free throws, the hosts trailed by three. Thornton got a good look but missed it, yet Golden State maintained possession. With six seconds remaining, the Valks had one last chance. Everyone in the sold-out arena knew Martin was the one to get the shot. That included New York, which subbed in stellar defender Natasha Cloud. Martin got the ball at the top and, after a few dribble moves, couldn't shake Cloud. She hoisted a desperation 3 that fell harmlessly shy of the rim. The Valkyries' upset bid died with it. However, what mattered most to the Golden State guard was that her team needed a bucket, and she was the one to get it. And the Kate Martin, they love to see, went for it. Advertisement This article originally appeared in The Athletic. New York Liberty, Golden State Valkyries, WNBA 2025 The Athletic Media Company
